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Tehelka panel not to examine Jaitely before Feb 27
Venkataswami Commission probing alleged corruption in defence deals in the wake of Tehelka expose, on Friday gave a commitment to the Delhi High Court that Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitley will not be cross-examined by it before February 27.
Venkataswami Commission probing alleged corruption in defence deals in the wake of Tehelka expose, on Friday gave a commitment to the Delhi High Court that Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitley will not be cross-examined by it before February 27.
Commission's counsel Gopal Subramaniam gave a commitment to this effect to Justice Manmohan Sarin when the court fixed next hearing on Jaitley's petition on February 27 allowing Tehelka reporters -- Tarun Tejpal, Anirudh Bahal and Samual Mathew -- five days' time to file their replies.
Jaitley has challenged her cross-examination by the panel before Tehelka reporters as well as authenticity of the video tapes prepared by the news portal during its sting operation to expose alleged corruption in defence deals. The commission's counsel gave the commitment to the court after Jaitely's counsel C S Vaidyanathan said either the court should issue an interim direction not to examine his client at least till next hearing on her petition or the commission gave a commitment to this effect.
Jaitley, who is among the 34 witnesses issued notices by the commission under Section 8-B of Commission of Inquiries Act, has sought examination of the tapes by forensic experts to clear the doubts whether any doctoring of the same has been done by the news portal. Her counsel said Tehelka reporters, who had prepared the tapes had to prove what they have said was true. "But the tapes have become highly doubtful when the 100 hours recording is reduced in a four-and-half-hours video and in such a situation her cross-examination prior to Tehelka people will prejudice her case," he said.
Bureau Report
Jaitley has challenged her cross-examination by the panel before Tehelka reporters as well as authenticity of the video tapes prepared by the news portal during its sting operation to expose alleged corruption in defence deals. The commission's counsel gave the commitment to the court after Jaitely's counsel C S Vaidyanathan said either the court should issue an interim direction not to examine his client at least till next hearing on her petition or the commission gave a commitment to this effect.
Jaitley, who is among the 34 witnesses issued notices by the commission under Section 8-B of Commission of Inquiries Act, has sought examination of the tapes by forensic experts to clear the doubts whether any doctoring of the same has been done by the news portal. Her counsel said Tehelka reporters, who had prepared the tapes had to prove what they have said was true. "But the tapes have become highly doubtful when the 100 hours recording is reduced in a four-and-half-hours video and in such a situation her cross-examination prior to Tehelka people will prejudice her case," he said.
Bureau Report